Understanding SI assessments

In addition to directly paying all compensation and medical costs, self-insuring employers pay semiannual assessments to BWC based on a percentage of their claim payments. These assessments include:

Self-Insured Surplus Fund (SIS) – This fund covers claim costs charged to the Surplus Fund of the State Insurance Fund. These costs are primarily for claims with injury dates prior to 1987 of defaulted self-insuring employers and for specific medical exams and prostheses.

Optional Disallowed Claim Reimbursement Program – This assessment funds the program to reimburse participating self-insuring employers for claim costs awarded by the IC that were ultimately overturned. Currently, 405 self-insuring employers participate in this program.

Guaranty fund assessments for new self-insuring employers – We assess new self-insuring employers 6 percent of the most current complete year of payroll premium at the effective date of self-insurance and the next two renewals.

In addition, all self-insuring employers must reimburse BWC for any Disabled Workers' Relief Fund (DWRF) payments, dollar-for-dollar on a semiannual basis. This fund is for permanently and totally disabled employees whose workers' comp benefits have not kept up with inflation. BWC bills the self-insuring employer dollar for dollar for these costs regardless of the injury date including any PTD claims related to any previous state fund policies.

Changes in the rates are a function of paid compensation reported by self-insuring employers and costs paid on behalf of self-insuring employers. SI employers will pay their assessments based upon the 2018 rates in February and August 2019. They will pay assessments based on the 2019 rates in February and August 2020.

For the 2019 rating year, 2018 calendar year paid compensation is used to determine assessments. If the 2018 reported compensation is below the minimum amount of $14,520.81, the minimum assessment for each mandatory fund shown in the chart below will be invoiced.

Mandatory assessment description

2017 rates: July 2017 - June 2018

2017 minimum assessment

2018 rates: July 2018 - June 2019

2018 minimum assessment

2019 rates: July 2019 - June 2020

2019 minimum assessment

Surplus Fund (mandatory)

.0490

$706.39

0.0400

$602.71

0.0300

$435.62

Guaranty Fund

.1060

No minimum

0.1000

No minimum

0.1000

No minimum

Administrative Cost Fund (BWC)

.0893

$1,287.36

0.0893

$1,345.56

0.0940

$1,364.96

Administrative Cost Fund (IC)

.0668

$963.00

0.0668

$1,006.53

0.072600

$1,054.21

Division of Safety & Hygiene

.0030

$43.25

0.0030

$45.20

0.0100

$145.21

Optional assessment description

2017 rates: July 2017 - June 2018

2017 minimum assessment

2018 rates: July 2018 - June 2019

2018 minimum assessment

2019 rates: July 2019 - June 2020

2019 minimum assessment

Surplus Fund (disallowed claims reimbursment)

.0050

No minimum

0.0100

No minimum

0.0050

No minimum

BWC issues self-insured assessment invoices in January and July of each year based on reported paid compensation from the previous calendar year. For example, the SI employer must report paid compensation for calendar year 2018 to BWC by February 2019. BWC will issue corresponding invoices in January 2020 with a due date of Feb. 28, 2020, and in July 2020 with a due date of Aug. 31, 2020. The employer must report paid compensation for calendar year 2019 by Feb. 28, 2020. BWC will issue corresponding invoices in January 2021 with a due date of Feb. 28, 2021, and in July 2021 with a due date of Aug. 31, 2021.

Frequently asked questions

How does BWC determine assessment rates?
BWC maintains a minimum balance of funds in the SIEGF at rates as low as possible to assure sufficient moneys to guarantee the payment of any claims against the fund. Additionally, Ohio Administrative Code 4123-19-15 (B) requires the SIEGF to maintain a minimum balance of 1.25 times the prior year's annual claims disbursements. When we determine the SIEGF has insufficient funds, we will then assess all self-insuring employers an annual contribution.

We determine SIS and SIEGF year-end fund balances and identify adjustments needed in the upcoming year. We determine new rates based on projected income from assessments and other third-party sources, and the amount needed to meet the statutorily required levels.

What are the revenue sources for the SIS and SIEGF?
The primary source of revenue is the assessment payments from self-insuring employers. Additional revenue can come from collection on security for defaulted employers, and recoveries from excess liability insurance previously held by defaulted employers.

What is the minimum assessment rate?
We determine the minimum amount of assessment due each year, regardless of the amount of compensation paid and reported. For a canceled self-insuring employer, we reduce the minimum assessment by 10 percent each year the employer reports paid compensation below the amount required to reach the minimum rate.

How did BWC determine the current assessment rates?
Please see the current-year assessment rate documentation.

How does BWC invoice the assessments?
We levy assessments based on the prior year's reported paid compensation for all active self-insuring employers. We used reported compensation for the calendar year 2017 for the January and July 2019 billings. Payments are due the last day of February and August, respectively.

Can employers pay invoices online?
Employers can make online payments with a credit card or bank account withdrawal from this website.

What if my payment is late?
We must receive assessment payments prior to the end of February and August. We will charge a $500 penalty if payment is not received on time. We may add additional penalties if payments are not received within 60 days of the payment due date.